React Essentials:-PART 33(Shimmer UI)

Shimmer UI, also known as skeleton loading or skeleton screens, is a user interface technique used to indicate that content is loading. It's particularly useful when fetching data asynchronously, especially for components that might take some time to load, ensuring a better user experience by showing a placeholder layout until the actual content is ready.

Benefits of Shimmer UI:

• User Experience: Provides immediate feedback to users that content is being loaded, reducing perceived loading times.

• Visual Continuity: Maintains the layout structure and design while waiting for content, preventing page elements from shifting.

• Engagement: Keeps users engaged with the interface by showing a sense of progress.

Implementing Shimmer UI in React

To implement Shimmer UI in React, you typically create a component that mimics the structure and layout of the content being loaded. Here’s a basic example of how you might implement a simple Shimmer UI component:

jsxCopy code// ShimmerEffect.js

import React from 'react';
import './ShimmerEffect.css'; // Styling for the shimmer effect

const ShimmerEffect = () => {
  return (
    <div className="shimmer-wrapper">
      <div className="shimmer"></div>
    </div>
  );
};

export default ShimmerEffect;

cssCopy code/* ShimmerEffect.css */

.shimmer-wrapper {
  display: inline-block;
  position: relative;
}

.shimmer {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background: linear-gradient(to right, transparent 0%, #f0f0f0 50%, transparent 100%);
  background-size: 200% auto;
  animation: shimmerAnimation 1.5s infinite linear;
}

@keyframes shimmerAnimation {
  0% {
    background-position: -200% 0;
  }
  100% {
    background-position: 200% 0;
  }
}

Explanation:

1. ShimmerEffect Component: This is a functional component that renders a shimmer effect. It uses CSS to create a gradient animation that simulates a loading effect.

2. CSS Styling: The .shimmer class creates the gradient effect that moves horizontally across the element. The shimmerAnimation keyframe animates the gradient from left to right repeatedly.

Usage:

You can use the ShimmerEffect component as a placeholder while fetching data asynchronously, like when waiting for API responses:

jsxCopy code// Example usage in a React component
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import ShimmerEffect from './ShimmerEffect';

const MyComponent = () => {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Simulating API fetch delay
    setTimeout(() => {
      fetchData();
    }, 2000); // Simulating 2 seconds delay
  }, []);

  const fetchData = () => {
    // Simulating fetched data
    setData({
      title: 'Example Title',
      description: 'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.',
    });
    setIsLoading(false);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      {isLoading ? (
        <ShimmerEffect />
      ) : (
        <div>
          <h1>{data.title}</h1>
          <p>{data.description}</p>
        </div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyComponent;

When to Use Shimmer UI:

• Async Operations: Use when waiting for data from APIs or fetching data from local storage.

• Complex Components: Use in components with multiple asynchronous dependencies to maintain visual integrity.

• Improved UX: Enhance user experience by providing visual feedback during loading times, reducing perceived wait times.

Advantages:

• Prevents Layout Shifts: Ensures that the layout remains stable while content is loading, avoiding unexpected shifts.

• Engages Users: Provides a more engaging user experience by indicating that content is actively loading.

• Easy Implementation: Relatively simple to implement using CSS animations, making it accessible for various components.

Implementing Shimmer UI helps to improve perceived performance and user satisfaction in React applications by managing user expectations during asynchronous operations.